From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
NEW YORK METS: Bullpen Indeed!
Dillon Gee just showed everyone why he should have never been in the bullpen when he was called up from Buffalo. The kid is a starting pitcher; period. There's a job description that comes along with that which states - START GAMES.
If you recall, I wanted him no where near our bullpen. For that I would have preferred he stay with the Bisons. Truth be told, I wish he was still back in Buffalo.
But here is; the former 2007 Brooklyn Cyclone crowd favorite. And since being called up after the first time Chris Young missed a start due to discomfort, Dillon Gee has done nothing but sparkle just about every time he's climbed atop a Major League mound. This afternoon's victory over the Nationals make him 3-0 on the season and 5-2 for his brief MLB career.
TODAY'S LINE vs. Washington Nationals:
7.2 innings pitched.
107 pitches/69 strikes
2 hits. No hits allowed over first 5.2 innings.
0 runs allowed.
3 walks allowed.
3 strikeouts.
Today's victory should be kept in perspective. After all, it came against Washington with whom we are wrestling with to stay out of last place. But being what it is, the kid pitched a hell of a game. And it doubled up an equally impressive start by Jon Niese last night in rain-soaked Citi Field.
JOHN NIESE Line a/o May 18th vs. Nationals:
7.0 innings.
112 pitches/72 strikes.
6 hits.
0 runs allowed.
1 walk
7 strikeouts.
Hey! Who can find an issue with that? And Mike Pelfrey has been stringing together some solid starts of late also. So, let's chalk one up for some home grown pitchers, won't we?
This Is How ADDITION By SUBTRACTION Works; Pay Attention:
I'm not about to predict anything about Justin Turner, but this kid justifies every reason why second-base needed to be freed from Luis Castillo's clutches. It showed how malignant 2b had become and how a stagnated situation can cripple a team. You can argue that we had to get through Brad Emaus to get to Turner. But the point is 2b became available for someone to step in and make good on a chance. Yes, the Mets have problems. But second base is so much less of a problem today that it has been in four years. Not because how well Turner has stepped in, but because the opportunity for someone to step in, in the absence of Luis Castillo, was made available by his release.
The Mets are 7-3 with Justin in the line-up. He's batting .333 since being called up from Buffalo and his .393 OBP is stellar. The kid also has 13 RBI in ten games!
And there you go; One Happy Post.
We aren't playing all that badly lately. We've taken some series' against teams we should have beaten, but you play who's on the schedule. We now sit 21-22 for the season. The New York Yankees are next. It's time for the Subway Series again. ....(next post).
Let's Go Mets!
Mike.BTB
Showing posts with label luis castillo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label luis castillo. Show all posts
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
N.Y. METS ~ I Say Fans Have More Power Over Wilpon Than Picard
From the desk of: Head-Butting Mr. Met
New York Mets: An Embattled Owner Needs His Fan Base Now More Than Ever. Met Fans Are In A Unique Position To Let Their Owner Sink Or Swim. What Will "WE" Do?
The Mets just ate $18 million in contract money still owed to Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez. Picard upped the ante against the The Wilpons by another $700 million dollars; bringing the total bill against Fred and Co. up to a cool $1 Billion Dollars. So what did today have in store for the Mets' beleaguered owners? Forbes downgraded the value of their club by 13%. That's a huge disparity if the figure reflective of the team's worth has nine or ten digits in it before the decimal.
While the Wilpons are estimating their team's value in excess of one billion dollars, Forbes didn't see it that way. This directly alters what the Wilpons are trying to secure in exchange for up to 25% ownership of the team from a prospectivestupid silent partner. How much will 25% really cost someone, and will it be enough for the Wilpons to keep their noses above water? I ask because we sadly have been told by the owners, they need this financial infusion to sustain operations over the next two to three years.
Having us ponder the ramifications of Fred's stated short term goal is ponderous. Does that sound very promising to you? Forget knowing what we all know and have learned thus far. Just take the statement at face value. They need a hard cold cash infusion and a truck load of help to survive the next two years. The Wilpons and Uncle Saul, need help with the daily financial operational ability of the Mets. Go ahead, say it again if you have to. It sounds mind-boggling for a NYC team. We know all about the MLB loans by now. We also know they have no where and no one else to borrow from. And borrowing against questionable accounting is how they operated in the first place. How else does an initial 2% owner's stake parlay into the empire Fred Wilpon is currently wrecking? Of course that's total speculation on my part.
According to circulating reports about the handling of the sale, nothing should happen until at least July. Between then and now, as the team is also plagued by weak ticket sales, can the Wilpons manage at least till then? I'd imagine so. I'd imagine MLB offices have ensured the Mets have payroll locked up safely in escrow. Right? You would think.
But when the original revelation of the Ponzi Scheme first broke out, I thought for some time, such a smart guy like Fred Wilpon would be savvy enough to be more diversified than he was, and not have a great majority of his investment principle heavily intertwined with Bernie Madoff. Like I said, the longer this goes, the more we learn.
At this point, there is nothing more Sandy Alderson can do to inspire fans to fill seats this season. His biggest successes have come before the season even starts. Other than reconfigure the front office, revamping minor league operations, and ridding the team of Castillo and Perez, the state of the Mets suggests Sandy Alderson's work for the season is near complete. The only pending matter would be that of Carlos Beltran. Will he or won't he last the season in a Mets' uniform? Otherwise, it's up to the current players themselves to inspire high numbers of fans to get out to Citi Field and fork over large sums of money the owner of this enterprise desperately needs us to spend.
How long? - ...is the question. How long can the Wilpons last? Being found right or wrong by Picard maybe be a matter resolved just a wee-bit too late for Mr. Wilpons' purposes. They need cash; and they need it now. They can't be entirely sure if we are going to literally come to the rescue by heading out to Citi by the Bay in droves. Other than that, the very earliest anyone else can give him the type of cash he needs won't be ready till mid-summer.
The fan base has been quite the perturbed ones with regard to their ownership these last few years; and especially since Fred and Family became sole owners in 2003. And now, he has never needed us more than he will in April; May; and June. He hasn't been what we would call being forthright with us. He's even bent the truth on us with regards to Madoff over a detail or two. At one time this organization was valued by Forbes as the number two organization in Baseball. But the Wilpons never allowed the club to operate in a manner reflective of that lofty status.
Now he needs our help to get him through to at least July. Mr. Wilpon is confident Picard is drumming up pure fiction. But do you think he's feeling equally confident we will show up for him in the numbers he desperately needs over the next three months?
For those of you Met fans who want to see the Wilpons sell the team and fade away, you'll never have a better chance than right now to exercise a say in his and our present dilemma. If we show up in record lows over the first three months of the season; his ownership is toast.
If you have compassion for the man and want to see him remain, then go to Citi Field, root, cheer and scream....Let's Go Mets. But the truth be known, Met fans are in a very unique position over the next four months to exert a lot of influence with regards to their present or future owner.
Let's Go Fans!
Mike,BTB
New York Mets: An Embattled Owner Needs His Fan Base Now More Than Ever. Met Fans Are In A Unique Position To Let Their Owner Sink Or Swim. What Will "WE" Do?
The Mets just ate $18 million in contract money still owed to Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez. Picard upped the ante against the The Wilpons by another $700 million dollars; bringing the total bill against Fred and Co. up to a cool $1 Billion Dollars. So what did today have in store for the Mets' beleaguered owners? Forbes downgraded the value of their club by 13%. That's a huge disparity if the figure reflective of the team's worth has nine or ten digits in it before the decimal.
While the Wilpons are estimating their team's value in excess of one billion dollars, Forbes didn't see it that way. This directly alters what the Wilpons are trying to secure in exchange for up to 25% ownership of the team from a prospective
Having us ponder the ramifications of Fred's stated short term goal is ponderous. Does that sound very promising to you? Forget knowing what we all know and have learned thus far. Just take the statement at face value. They need a hard cold cash infusion and a truck load of help to survive the next two years. The Wilpons and Uncle Saul, need help with the daily financial operational ability of the Mets. Go ahead, say it again if you have to. It sounds mind-boggling for a NYC team. We know all about the MLB loans by now. We also know they have no where and no one else to borrow from. And borrowing against questionable accounting is how they operated in the first place. How else does an initial 2% owner's stake parlay into the empire Fred Wilpon is currently wrecking? Of course that's total speculation on my part.
According to circulating reports about the handling of the sale, nothing should happen until at least July. Between then and now, as the team is also plagued by weak ticket sales, can the Wilpons manage at least till then? I'd imagine so. I'd imagine MLB offices have ensured the Mets have payroll locked up safely in escrow. Right? You would think.
But when the original revelation of the Ponzi Scheme first broke out, I thought for some time, such a smart guy like Fred Wilpon would be savvy enough to be more diversified than he was, and not have a great majority of his investment principle heavily intertwined with Bernie Madoff. Like I said, the longer this goes, the more we learn.
At this point, there is nothing more Sandy Alderson can do to inspire fans to fill seats this season. His biggest successes have come before the season even starts. Other than reconfigure the front office, revamping minor league operations, and ridding the team of Castillo and Perez, the state of the Mets suggests Sandy Alderson's work for the season is near complete. The only pending matter would be that of Carlos Beltran. Will he or won't he last the season in a Mets' uniform? Otherwise, it's up to the current players themselves to inspire high numbers of fans to get out to Citi Field and fork over large sums of money the owner of this enterprise desperately needs us to spend.
How long? - ...is the question. How long can the Wilpons last? Being found right or wrong by Picard maybe be a matter resolved just a wee-bit too late for Mr. Wilpons' purposes. They need cash; and they need it now. They can't be entirely sure if we are going to literally come to the rescue by heading out to Citi by the Bay in droves. Other than that, the very earliest anyone else can give him the type of cash he needs won't be ready till mid-summer.
The fan base has been quite the perturbed ones with regard to their ownership these last few years; and especially since Fred and Family became sole owners in 2003. And now, he has never needed us more than he will in April; May; and June. He hasn't been what we would call being forthright with us. He's even bent the truth on us with regards to Madoff over a detail or two. At one time this organization was valued by Forbes as the number two organization in Baseball. But the Wilpons never allowed the club to operate in a manner reflective of that lofty status.
Now he needs our help to get him through to at least July. Mr. Wilpon is confident Picard is drumming up pure fiction. But do you think he's feeling equally confident we will show up for him in the numbers he desperately needs over the next three months?
For those of you Met fans who want to see the Wilpons sell the team and fade away, you'll never have a better chance than right now to exercise a say in his and our present dilemma. If we show up in record lows over the first three months of the season; his ownership is toast.
If you have compassion for the man and want to see him remain, then go to Citi Field, root, cheer and scream....Let's Go Mets. But the truth be known, Met fans are in a very unique position over the next four months to exert a lot of influence with regards to their present or future owner.
Let's Go Fans!
Mike,BTB
Saturday, March 19, 2011
N.Y. METS ~ Reporter Takes A Swing And Misses; On Luis Castillo
From the desk of: Head-Butting Mr. Met
Andy Martino of the N.Y. Daily News brought up a fair question as to whether the fan's negative sentiment towards Luis Castillo was partly based on racism.
NEW YORK METS:
File this under; "Things I Hate Talking About That Sometimes Need To Be Talked About"
I believe the only bad question you can ask is the one that isn't asked. The real life vigil against racism should never rest. And any conversation concerning racism is good conversation regardless of what direction the conversation may go. Identifying and understanding differing opinions in an open manner is as necessary to the discourse as any other aspect regarding racism, hatred, and ignorance.
Take Three:
...as in, this is my third attempt at this post. I want to say too much. But, way back when, I made a promise that I wouldn't take myself too seriously when it comes to my blog. In addition to that, Racism is just too broad a topic for me to tackle here.
But I will tell you where I'm coming from.
I am half Puerto Rican and half Sicilian. In all honesty, this volatile mix of blood requires attitude adjustments and mood management on a daily, and almost hourly basis. Trying to keep my disposition on a leash is a challenge for me. But I'm self aware, and that's an even bigger challenge for me to conquer because as they say, Ignorance is Bliss. I am fully in touch with both sides of my heritages to include command of the languages. My foundation was reinforced with trips and stays to my two "mother-lands".
Racism is alive and well people! I hope no one is in denial of that fact. I'll have that conversation with you; but just not here. I'm going to take it upon myself and lessen the severity of the word Racism for Mr. Martino and inject myself into this and say the problem is with Ethnocentrism. The word is a downgrade from Racism, but equally disturbing in it's practice and dynamics. But I also think it's a more accurate descriptive of today's problem.
Racism is something wholly different. Racists do not befriend their enemies and those they have contempt for just because they're at a ball game. But ethno-centrists can and sometimes do. Racists, true racists, make no secrets of their beliefs. Ethno-centrists at a game however, are "usually" revealed according to their degree of intoxication. Two ethno-centrists can become friends. It happens all the time. At a minimum, ethnocentrists can even declare a truce for the length of a game then go back to being close minded afterwards. But make no mistake, ethnocentrism can be and is, just as derisive and hurtful as racism to the recipient and still fuels hatred on an equally disturbing level.
Getting back to me, I have flourished in both the White World and the Latino World. But I do look white. It's not until you know me or I am placed in a Latino environment, that you will pick-up on that. My first language is Brooklynese. What is more important to me above all is that I am a native New Yorker, and above that I'm a born and bred Brooklynite. That's how I identify myself. I get that from my mother; the Puerto Rican. Above all else, she calls herself a New Yorker. She came to NYC 60 years ago. She tried retiring and leaving NYC. With my sister's encouragement, she moved to Florida so they could be closer. Two years later she was back and rejoined the NYC hustle. She said Florida almost killed her. She still takes the train to her office everyday without fail. She said when she does die, I'm not allowed to send her back to P.R. to be buried in their family plot. It's on me to make sure she always remains in NYC. She was born in a (now) historical district of a town which is Puerto Rico's equivalent to America's Salem, Mass. It's a great place and many of my relatives still live in the town. They are a baseball family with many ties, connections, and friendships. Mom has two nephews in Major League Baseball. She was the one who impressed upon me the importance of speaking well. She had the language mastered long before I was born and always stressed how important a tool effective speaking was. My Pop? LOL...don't make me laugh. He didn't give a damn about English, but did just fine for himself with his Anglotalian. He actually did better with Spanish. By the way, my mom learned Italian too. What she doesn't appreciate is Brooklynese.
Fugheddaboudit!
Here's where it all gets sticky. Of course I play both roles to suit my needs when ever I can. Why not? Advantage mine. I'm equally equipped to exist as an Italian White or as a Latino. Here's the uglier part of this dynamic. There are times when a white man is supremely confident he is in the presence of a like-minded white man in me, and winds up saying the most heinous things about Latinos while unaware of my being Puerto Rican. And I must admit I love throwing them for a loop when I correct them (if I correct them). And as a half-Italian, I get that from the Italians all the time. Then I get the classic - Oh, but you're not like the others.
Really?
Most times, I willingly chose to say nothing without a hint of reaction. I do it because I like to learn. I like to see people behaving in their natural environment, if you follow me. I admit, it's akin to looking at their souls through a key hole. The real ethnocentrists for some reason like to swing the door wide open for me! LOL. It's like being a double-agent (key 007 theme music here).
But I pick and choose my moments for when I'm feeling feisty or just want to be passive aggressive. I like making people look stupid that way because when you're self-confident and use tact, you can get away with it. There are also the times when Latinos are so sure I am "them", that they also will offer their truer insights regarding the white man. Of course I'm only speaking to the small number of bad apples in every-one's societal pocket. The problem is, I know exactly how these two worlds think. I also understand language barriers and the perceptions that arise from them. And I think we're all rather well versed in stereotypes.
Blame Canada!
This isn't a South Park episode. This is Madison Square Garden.
Last night at the NY Rangers game, there was a certain inebriated Viking (was that wrong of me?) that supplied my section with a continuous stream of "SPIC" jokes targeted at Scott Gomez; "the Filthy Mexican" who now plays for the Montreal Canadiens. But even before the game started, during the National Anthems no less, Mister Liquid Courage launched his first verbal scud. A public school's choir from Staten Island had the honor of singing the American and Canadian National Anthems. One Spanish looking little girl had a solo-part during the American anthem. So Mister Idiot Water screamed out, "take a bath you filthy Mexican" when they put her face on the screen as she sang.
I get tickets for games from my season-ticket holding friends. So I am in that section infrequently. But this individual and I did have a moment to "chat" the last time me, him, and Scott Gomez were all there on the same night together last season. It was a simple exchange; discrete, and no one got disrespected. No one ever even realized I called him out on his indiscretion because of the way I handled it when an opportunity presented itself. But to his credit, there were no more "SPIC" jokes that night.
By the way, I don't drink at games for a number of reasons. But none of my reasons are of the self-righteous variety. Beer at games is cool with me. But bad drinkers suck. I take this into account when I attend games. I'm good to go if you know what I mean. I'll handle myself. But I understand I'm the one exercising more patience in a crowd than the guy with an Ale in his hand.
So last night, after about 10 minutes in and a "SPIC" joke that really went over the top, my attempts to ignore him failed. I turned to him as he was a few rows behind me and put my hands up as if to say, "WHY Bro?" He saw me, acknowledged, and that pretty much ended the SPIC jokes. Then what followed was an all out assault on anything Canadien and everything Canadian. The guy was ruthless. I had two older French-Speaking Canadians sitting to my left whom also had words with Sir-Drink-A-Lot. Beer Boy did have a friend who squealed equally foul rubbish, but it wasn't too hard to figure out who was leading who. This guy took his Canadian laced debauchery seriously and was angry about it.
This dude wasn't the first guy; the first game; the first arena or stadium; the first city; or first anything. He's just one guy who gives a lot of people a bad name regardless of what color crayon you are.
So what the hell does all this have to do with Luis Castillo and Andy Martino? I don't really know, but I know what Andy Martino was trying to say, and the ethnocentric, game long rant my section was in attendance for last night at the Ranger game, are loosely connected.
The Latino Gate/Phobia Andy Martino made reference to reminded me of the amusement I had as that whole thing went down between, Paul LoDuca, Billy Wagner and various Latino players. Yes, I was amused, because it was no different than any other scapegoating or crusade the Media feels like inspiring. I heard the radio show callers complain about Omar and the LatinOzation of the MetropoLATINOS. I heard them. I'm just not sure I ever believed that was a prevailing sentiment among Met Fans. I do believe MOST people are very tolerant of each other.
I've pondered Latino Gate before from both sides of the fence, because I can. And I never felt LatinOzation was the plan or (un)intended goal.
Andy Martino wondered if racism played a part in Luis Castillo's problems with the Mets. I also heard Mr. Mike'd Up say the reason Luis Castillo was hated here was because he never smiled or looked happy and never did anything to make us forget the dropped pop-up against the Yankees.
Wow. Who knew? It's all so brilliant. That's why they are the professionals and I'm just a dumb blogger.
I thought the reason Luis Castillo was never liked here was because EVERYONE knew signing him to a four year deal for ludicrous money was a horrible mistake! The Twins were lucky to squeeze the last good days out of him. So coming here, NO ONE thought we were getting that player the moment he signed. He could have sailed into Flushing Bay on the Mayflower and he still would not have been liked because the deal was BAD! We could have dealt with a two year deal. But we gave him four years that proved to be a horrible idea after the first season.
Andy Martino had no business injecting race into Luis Castillo's Spring Training and over-all team situation. None! Luis Castillo could have been VULCAN and it wouldn't have made us like him more. The more he got injured and didn't fill our need at second base the less we liked him. Because of the four year deal, we were handcuffed in any attempt to upgrade second base. So we disliked him even more. The dropped pop-up was just a log on the fire.
Luis Castillo was not disliked by Mets fans because he is a dark skinned Dominican!
Damn it I hope the Mayans are right about this Age of Man. If there was something there to work with, Martino would be justified throwing a stick like that in the spokes at this time. But no one has even mentioned Latino Gate until Martino brought it back to the printed page. He was trying to make A and B equal C, but it doesn't add up for me. I feel like I'm qualified to agree or disagree with such a line of questioning. That's why I think his article is a big swing and a miss.
Mike.BTB
Andy Martino of the N.Y. Daily News brought up a fair question as to whether the fan's negative sentiment towards Luis Castillo was partly based on racism.
NEW YORK METS:
File this under; "Things I Hate Talking About That Sometimes Need To Be Talked About"
I believe the only bad question you can ask is the one that isn't asked. The real life vigil against racism should never rest. And any conversation concerning racism is good conversation regardless of what direction the conversation may go. Identifying and understanding differing opinions in an open manner is as necessary to the discourse as any other aspect regarding racism, hatred, and ignorance.
Take Three:
...as in, this is my third attempt at this post. I want to say too much. But, way back when, I made a promise that I wouldn't take myself too seriously when it comes to my blog. In addition to that, Racism is just too broad a topic for me to tackle here.
But I will tell you where I'm coming from.
I am half Puerto Rican and half Sicilian. In all honesty, this volatile mix of blood requires attitude adjustments and mood management on a daily, and almost hourly basis. Trying to keep my disposition on a leash is a challenge for me. But I'm self aware, and that's an even bigger challenge for me to conquer because as they say, Ignorance is Bliss. I am fully in touch with both sides of my heritages to include command of the languages. My foundation was reinforced with trips and stays to my two "mother-lands".
Racism is alive and well people! I hope no one is in denial of that fact. I'll have that conversation with you; but just not here. I'm going to take it upon myself and lessen the severity of the word Racism for Mr. Martino and inject myself into this and say the problem is with Ethnocentrism. The word is a downgrade from Racism, but equally disturbing in it's practice and dynamics. But I also think it's a more accurate descriptive of today's problem.
Racism is something wholly different. Racists do not befriend their enemies and those they have contempt for just because they're at a ball game. But ethno-centrists can and sometimes do. Racists, true racists, make no secrets of their beliefs. Ethno-centrists at a game however, are "usually" revealed according to their degree of intoxication. Two ethno-centrists can become friends. It happens all the time. At a minimum, ethnocentrists can even declare a truce for the length of a game then go back to being close minded afterwards. But make no mistake, ethnocentrism can be and is, just as derisive and hurtful as racism to the recipient and still fuels hatred on an equally disturbing level.
Getting back to me, I have flourished in both the White World and the Latino World. But I do look white. It's not until you know me or I am placed in a Latino environment, that you will pick-up on that. My first language is Brooklynese. What is more important to me above all is that I am a native New Yorker, and above that I'm a born and bred Brooklynite. That's how I identify myself. I get that from my mother; the Puerto Rican. Above all else, she calls herself a New Yorker. She came to NYC 60 years ago. She tried retiring and leaving NYC. With my sister's encouragement, she moved to Florida so they could be closer. Two years later she was back and rejoined the NYC hustle. She said Florida almost killed her. She still takes the train to her office everyday without fail. She said when she does die, I'm not allowed to send her back to P.R. to be buried in their family plot. It's on me to make sure she always remains in NYC. She was born in a (now) historical district of a town which is Puerto Rico's equivalent to America's Salem, Mass. It's a great place and many of my relatives still live in the town. They are a baseball family with many ties, connections, and friendships. Mom has two nephews in Major League Baseball. She was the one who impressed upon me the importance of speaking well. She had the language mastered long before I was born and always stressed how important a tool effective speaking was. My Pop? LOL...don't make me laugh. He didn't give a damn about English, but did just fine for himself with his Anglotalian. He actually did better with Spanish. By the way, my mom learned Italian too. What she doesn't appreciate is Brooklynese.
Fugheddaboudit!
Here's where it all gets sticky. Of course I play both roles to suit my needs when ever I can. Why not? Advantage mine. I'm equally equipped to exist as an Italian White or as a Latino. Here's the uglier part of this dynamic. There are times when a white man is supremely confident he is in the presence of a like-minded white man in me, and winds up saying the most heinous things about Latinos while unaware of my being Puerto Rican. And I must admit I love throwing them for a loop when I correct them (if I correct them). And as a half-Italian, I get that from the Italians all the time. Then I get the classic - Oh, but you're not like the others.
Really?
Most times, I willingly chose to say nothing without a hint of reaction. I do it because I like to learn. I like to see people behaving in their natural environment, if you follow me. I admit, it's akin to looking at their souls through a key hole. The real ethnocentrists for some reason like to swing the door wide open for me! LOL. It's like being a double-agent (key 007 theme music here).
But I pick and choose my moments for when I'm feeling feisty or just want to be passive aggressive. I like making people look stupid that way because when you're self-confident and use tact, you can get away with it. There are also the times when Latinos are so sure I am "them", that they also will offer their truer insights regarding the white man. Of course I'm only speaking to the small number of bad apples in every-one's societal pocket. The problem is, I know exactly how these two worlds think. I also understand language barriers and the perceptions that arise from them. And I think we're all rather well versed in stereotypes.
Blame Canada!
This isn't a South Park episode. This is Madison Square Garden.
Last night at the NY Rangers game, there was a certain inebriated Viking (was that wrong of me?) that supplied my section with a continuous stream of "SPIC" jokes targeted at Scott Gomez; "the Filthy Mexican" who now plays for the Montreal Canadiens. But even before the game started, during the National Anthems no less, Mister Liquid Courage launched his first verbal scud. A public school's choir from Staten Island had the honor of singing the American and Canadian National Anthems. One Spanish looking little girl had a solo-part during the American anthem. So Mister Idiot Water screamed out, "take a bath you filthy Mexican" when they put her face on the screen as she sang.
I get tickets for games from my season-ticket holding friends. So I am in that section infrequently. But this individual and I did have a moment to "chat" the last time me, him, and Scott Gomez were all there on the same night together last season. It was a simple exchange; discrete, and no one got disrespected. No one ever even realized I called him out on his indiscretion because of the way I handled it when an opportunity presented itself. But to his credit, there were no more "SPIC" jokes that night.
By the way, I don't drink at games for a number of reasons. But none of my reasons are of the self-righteous variety. Beer at games is cool with me. But bad drinkers suck. I take this into account when I attend games. I'm good to go if you know what I mean. I'll handle myself. But I understand I'm the one exercising more patience in a crowd than the guy with an Ale in his hand.
So last night, after about 10 minutes in and a "SPIC" joke that really went over the top, my attempts to ignore him failed. I turned to him as he was a few rows behind me and put my hands up as if to say, "WHY Bro?" He saw me, acknowledged, and that pretty much ended the SPIC jokes. Then what followed was an all out assault on anything Canadien and everything Canadian. The guy was ruthless. I had two older French-Speaking Canadians sitting to my left whom also had words with Sir-Drink-A-Lot. Beer Boy did have a friend who squealed equally foul rubbish, but it wasn't too hard to figure out who was leading who. This guy took his Canadian laced debauchery seriously and was angry about it.
This dude wasn't the first guy; the first game; the first arena or stadium; the first city; or first anything. He's just one guy who gives a lot of people a bad name regardless of what color crayon you are.
So what the hell does all this have to do with Luis Castillo and Andy Martino? I don't really know, but I know what Andy Martino was trying to say, and the ethnocentric, game long rant my section was in attendance for last night at the Ranger game, are loosely connected.
The Latino Gate/Phobia Andy Martino made reference to reminded me of the amusement I had as that whole thing went down between, Paul LoDuca, Billy Wagner and various Latino players. Yes, I was amused, because it was no different than any other scapegoating or crusade the Media feels like inspiring. I heard the radio show callers complain about Omar and the LatinOzation of the MetropoLATINOS. I heard them. I'm just not sure I ever believed that was a prevailing sentiment among Met Fans. I do believe MOST people are very tolerant of each other.
I've pondered Latino Gate before from both sides of the fence, because I can. And I never felt LatinOzation was the plan or (un)intended goal.
Andy Martino wondered if racism played a part in Luis Castillo's problems with the Mets. I also heard Mr. Mike'd Up say the reason Luis Castillo was hated here was because he never smiled or looked happy and never did anything to make us forget the dropped pop-up against the Yankees.
Wow. Who knew? It's all so brilliant. That's why they are the professionals and I'm just a dumb blogger.
I thought the reason Luis Castillo was never liked here was because EVERYONE knew signing him to a four year deal for ludicrous money was a horrible mistake! The Twins were lucky to squeeze the last good days out of him. So coming here, NO ONE thought we were getting that player the moment he signed. He could have sailed into Flushing Bay on the Mayflower and he still would not have been liked because the deal was BAD! We could have dealt with a two year deal. But we gave him four years that proved to be a horrible idea after the first season.
Andy Martino had no business injecting race into Luis Castillo's Spring Training and over-all team situation. None! Luis Castillo could have been VULCAN and it wouldn't have made us like him more. The more he got injured and didn't fill our need at second base the less we liked him. Because of the four year deal, we were handcuffed in any attempt to upgrade second base. So we disliked him even more. The dropped pop-up was just a log on the fire.
Luis Castillo was not disliked by Mets fans because he is a dark skinned Dominican!
Damn it I hope the Mayans are right about this Age of Man. If there was something there to work with, Martino would be justified throwing a stick like that in the spokes at this time. But no one has even mentioned Latino Gate until Martino brought it back to the printed page. He was trying to make A and B equal C, but it doesn't add up for me. I feel like I'm qualified to agree or disagree with such a line of questioning. That's why I think his article is a big swing and a miss.
Mike.BTB
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
N.Y. METS ~ Time Bandits
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
New York Mets: Mr. Mets' DeLOREAN is Spinning it's Tires In The Flushing Mud.
Welcome to Day 797 of the 2009 Baseball season.
So when exactly do we get to move on and enter this new decade? When do we finally get to Pass Go and collect our $200 dollars? Oh...That's right; Bernie Madoff's dog ate it.
Of course I know the answers to my own questions. So, in the mean time, can someone just kick me instead? After all, we have become the Fan Base with the "Kick Me" sign on our backs. Haven't we? So please, tap into your inner-Nike and just do it; Kick Me...and make all this ridicule worth the aggravation. That's right!...That's us! - The Fans with the sign. Do I speak truth or am I just angry?
Today Ladies and Gentlemen, I am just plain and simply...TIRED! I have to open up the release valve because somewhere down the line I'll bust if I don't. I've been trying to bury myself in Hockey and trying to pay the Mets as little mind as possible before the season kicks off, for the sake of not being repetitive or sounding like a malcontent. I'll have six months for that so there's no need to rush The Spew. But being in your forties and learning to compartmentalize doesn't necessarily insure you for 365 days a year. The Mets have given me no choice but to pick and chose my battles because it seems they present the same dilemma everyday. General talk regarding the Mets will invariably sound awfully similar to all the garbage we've been heaping on them for over two years now.
But Mike...what about the good? - The Thole's and the Ike's and Parnell's? Yea; I know. But that's not what's coming out of my radio or being printed in my paper. So, what you're getting from me today is a rant because I'm sick and tired of hearing about Carlos Beltran's "good" knee - or is it his "bad" knee? I'm fatigued with Luis Castillo's mock battle for the second-base job. Oliver Perez has me completely lethargic with apathy. And the more we learn about the Wilpons' legal mess and their money woes, the more the whole "Hey Brother, can you spare a few Million?" - just makes me want to throw up huge chunks of Blue and Orange ambivalence.
When does the circus show stop and Sandy Alderson finally makes the clean-up type moves the new GM of the Mets was hired to handle? After today's outing, what can the possible justification for retaining Oliver Perez beyond tomorrow be? What of Luis Castillo? One of these gentlemen have to go. I'm not asking for both. But certainly one has to go.....and soon. I need more done to tell me we are moving away from the year 2009. This isn't a woe is us thing. This isn't a "My team sucks" deal either. I'm just tired of being locked-in to the year 2009. Seven hundred and ninety-seven days after the calendar marked January 1st, 2009, here we are juggling the same flaming torch, razor-sharp axe, and lit stick of dynamite like a blindfolded clown with no one watching.
The season hasn't started and I'm already fed-up with all the derisiveness coming out of my radio when the Mets are topic one. But I just forgot to recharge the Anti-Met Rhetoric Shield last night and now today I'm cranky and paying the price for it. I don't mind when "We" do it. Quite the opposite; I find find the Met Bloggers very entertaining and engaging. But sometimes the Media really rubs me the wrong way. Today is just one of those days.
Wasn't it Einstein who said Insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result? Or was that Joan Rivers? ...Or something like that? They had equally bad hair and pale complexions. Regardless, STOP The Insanity! If you know me, I like dabbling in sarcasm like the rest, but I try hard to stay away from mindless anger. And that's why a little release today will serve my Mets' Loyalty better later.
Like Time Bandits, the Mets have stolen years from us. Wake me when the Mets arrive in 2011 or when Wilpon the Clown stops juggling our team in front of anyone with pocket change.
Pfffff!!
Mike.BTB
New York Mets: Mr. Mets' DeLOREAN is Spinning it's Tires In The Flushing Mud.
Welcome to Day 797 of the 2009 Baseball season.
So when exactly do we get to move on and enter this new decade? When do we finally get to Pass Go and collect our $200 dollars? Oh...That's right; Bernie Madoff's dog ate it.
Of course I know the answers to my own questions. So, in the mean time, can someone just kick me instead? After all, we have become the Fan Base with the "Kick Me" sign on our backs. Haven't we? So please, tap into your inner-Nike and just do it; Kick Me...and make all this ridicule worth the aggravation. That's right!...That's us! - The Fans with the sign. Do I speak truth or am I just angry?
Today Ladies and Gentlemen, I am just plain and simply...TIRED! I have to open up the release valve because somewhere down the line I'll bust if I don't. I've been trying to bury myself in Hockey and trying to pay the Mets as little mind as possible before the season kicks off, for the sake of not being repetitive or sounding like a malcontent. I'll have six months for that so there's no need to rush The Spew. But being in your forties and learning to compartmentalize doesn't necessarily insure you for 365 days a year. The Mets have given me no choice but to pick and chose my battles because it seems they present the same dilemma everyday. General talk regarding the Mets will invariably sound awfully similar to all the garbage we've been heaping on them for over two years now.
But Mike...what about the good? - The Thole's and the Ike's and Parnell's? Yea; I know. But that's not what's coming out of my radio or being printed in my paper. So, what you're getting from me today is a rant because I'm sick and tired of hearing about Carlos Beltran's "good" knee - or is it his "bad" knee? I'm fatigued with Luis Castillo's mock battle for the second-base job. Oliver Perez has me completely lethargic with apathy. And the more we learn about the Wilpons' legal mess and their money woes, the more the whole "Hey Brother, can you spare a few Million?" - just makes me want to throw up huge chunks of Blue and Orange ambivalence.
When does the circus show stop and Sandy Alderson finally makes the clean-up type moves the new GM of the Mets was hired to handle? After today's outing, what can the possible justification for retaining Oliver Perez beyond tomorrow be? What of Luis Castillo? One of these gentlemen have to go. I'm not asking for both. But certainly one has to go.....and soon. I need more done to tell me we are moving away from the year 2009. This isn't a woe is us thing. This isn't a "My team sucks" deal either. I'm just tired of being locked-in to the year 2009. Seven hundred and ninety-seven days after the calendar marked January 1st, 2009, here we are juggling the same flaming torch, razor-sharp axe, and lit stick of dynamite like a blindfolded clown with no one watching.
The season hasn't started and I'm already fed-up with all the derisiveness coming out of my radio when the Mets are topic one. But I just forgot to recharge the Anti-Met Rhetoric Shield last night and now today I'm cranky and paying the price for it. I don't mind when "We" do it. Quite the opposite; I find find the Met Bloggers very entertaining and engaging. But sometimes the Media really rubs me the wrong way. Today is just one of those days.
Wasn't it Einstein who said Insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result? Or was that Joan Rivers? ...Or something like that? They had equally bad hair and pale complexions. Regardless, STOP The Insanity! If you know me, I like dabbling in sarcasm like the rest, but I try hard to stay away from mindless anger. And that's why a little release today will serve my Mets' Loyalty better later.
Like Time Bandits, the Mets have stolen years from us. Wake me when the Mets arrive in 2011 or when Wilpon the Clown stops juggling our team in front of anyone with pocket change.
Pfffff!!
Mike.BTB
Monday, August 02, 2010
S.S. Trolley is Setting Sail
Bonn Voyage'!!! <------(?)
I am a man of my word. The trade deadline came and went. I said if the Mets chose to remain inactive (which was a good idea in my grand scheme of things) during the trading deadline, the next day should be the first day to start calling up kids and shaking things up.
That day (trade deadline) came and went. The Mets smartly did nothing; smartly did nothing stupid that is.
I'm not going off on subjects I've been going off on since the winter. But recently I let my sentiments about the Flushing developments be known.
On a full time basis I want Josh Thole at catcher. I want Fernando Martinez in right field. I'd like Ruben Tejada, Jon Malo, Reese Havens or Wilmer Flores at second base. It's time to call up pitchers Dillon Gee or Dylan Owen, or both. Lucas Duda has been having a fine season down below and maybe deserves a look during the September Call-Ups in the outfield also. Henrry Mejia should be all stretched out by then and I'm interested to see what strides he's made. And I'm always looking for steady improvement out of Bobby Parnell.
Carlos Beltran; Luis Castillo; Rod Barrajas; Jeff Francoeur; Oliver Perez...et al - Can you feel the breeze?
Yep...that ship has sailed, mates.
Jerry Manuel may have the rest of the season. I'd make him no promises about next year.
This however is my one major thought of the day:
You can't fire the owners and I need Jeff Wilpon out of Omar's ear and out of his way so he can get this mess straightened out and the rebuilding transitioned effectively. Jeff and Fred Wilpon are clearly giving this team it's directive but for many of the wrong reasons. That's because they are a reactive ownership and haven't been forthright with their fan base.
What I need is a good strong, Baseball Qualified, Team President. I need separation between Omar and Jeff. A good team President will ensure the owners priorities are met and kept and also ensure the GM has his directives free of interference and yet authority to act in the best interest of the club.
My ship has sailed. The day is upon us Met Fans. 2011 and 2012 start NOW! Or at least they should.
There is way too much talk that the Met season rests with this road trip they started in Atlanta tonight. They just got the b'jeezers knocked out of them by the D-Backs at home where they are supposed to be playing well.
This road trip? C'mon! When are we just going to face reality instead of disingenuously drawing Momar Kadafy-like lines in the sand. Do we really need to wait to see how this road trip will play out? Do we? Really? That's been part of our problems as Met Fans and as an organization. We are too quick to hold on to something that doesn't exists. Too many, to include the Wilpons are clinging on to a phantom called the 2006 season. Let Go Already!!
Tote that barge...lift that bail!!! I'm setting sail.
Will the S.S. Wilpon continue to take on water? We'll see.
Mike.BTB
I am a man of my word. The trade deadline came and went. I said if the Mets chose to remain inactive (which was a good idea in my grand scheme of things) during the trading deadline, the next day should be the first day to start calling up kids and shaking things up.
That day (trade deadline) came and went. The Mets smartly did nothing; smartly did nothing stupid that is.
I'm not going off on subjects I've been going off on since the winter. But recently I let my sentiments about the Flushing developments be known.
On a full time basis I want Josh Thole at catcher. I want Fernando Martinez in right field. I'd like Ruben Tejada, Jon Malo, Reese Havens or Wilmer Flores at second base. It's time to call up pitchers Dillon Gee or Dylan Owen, or both. Lucas Duda has been having a fine season down below and maybe deserves a look during the September Call-Ups in the outfield also. Henrry Mejia should be all stretched out by then and I'm interested to see what strides he's made. And I'm always looking for steady improvement out of Bobby Parnell.
Carlos Beltran; Luis Castillo; Rod Barrajas; Jeff Francoeur; Oliver Perez...et al - Can you feel the breeze?
Yep...that ship has sailed, mates.
Jerry Manuel may have the rest of the season. I'd make him no promises about next year.
This however is my one major thought of the day:
You can't fire the owners and I need Jeff Wilpon out of Omar's ear and out of his way so he can get this mess straightened out and the rebuilding transitioned effectively. Jeff and Fred Wilpon are clearly giving this team it's directive but for many of the wrong reasons. That's because they are a reactive ownership and haven't been forthright with their fan base.
What I need is a good strong, Baseball Qualified, Team President. I need separation between Omar and Jeff. A good team President will ensure the owners priorities are met and kept and also ensure the GM has his directives free of interference and yet authority to act in the best interest of the club.
My ship has sailed. The day is upon us Met Fans. 2011 and 2012 start NOW! Or at least they should.
There is way too much talk that the Met season rests with this road trip they started in Atlanta tonight. They just got the b'jeezers knocked out of them by the D-Backs at home where they are supposed to be playing well.
This road trip? C'mon! When are we just going to face reality instead of disingenuously drawing Momar Kadafy-like lines in the sand. Do we really need to wait to see how this road trip will play out? Do we? Really? That's been part of our problems as Met Fans and as an organization. We are too quick to hold on to something that doesn't exists. Too many, to include the Wilpons are clinging on to a phantom called the 2006 season. Let Go Already!!
Tote that barge...lift that bail!!! I'm setting sail.
Will the S.S. Wilpon continue to take on water? We'll see.
Mike.BTB
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
WILPONIANISM
An e-mail I sent in to Bill Daughtry's show on 1050ESPN Radio:
Let's get right to the heart of Met Matters and WILPONIANISM shall we?
Are the Mets going to make a genuine effort to sign Cliff Lee this winter? Are they willing to do what other clubs won't? Will they do enough to convince him to pitch here?
ANSWER ~ I'm leaning towards no; They won't.
The time is coming soon when the Mets need to decide whether WRIGHT and REYES are going to anchor this team before they're up for big money. If the Mets don't commit in theory one way or another now, we'll just continue to spin our tires in the mud when it gets to that. If they know they are not committed to them long term for big money, Trade Them. If they are committed in theory, hurry up and continue the re-build process we started (started out of desperation and we are still deciding whether it worked out by design or accident!). MY OPINION? I have no idea what the Wilpons think anymore.
So what exactly is the plan here Bill? Have the Mets thought about these things? I say no because they are practiced at the art of Band-aids. They're still a reactive ownership.
The Wilpons themselves represent the biggest problem for the Mets' fan base. They have NEVER been forthright, truthful, open...about the financial health of the club. Additionally is the Mets Medical Staff that inept to still be getting (injuries in general) Reyes' oblique injury somewhat wrong OR are the dictates of the Wilpons at work in such matters?
In business, CORRECTIONS hurt. All business' go through corrections. The Mets need a correction Bill. If the Mets do not impose a correction upon themselves they will forever chase their tails in a circle. The time is now. It was started already. They just need to recognize, follow through and finish the job. Remember how the Rangers recognized they needed a correction because of the ARod contract? Remember how Colorado recognized they had a problem on their hands with the Mike Hampton contract? Corrections. Look at Colorado and Texas in today's standings after a rebuilding process and a painful correction.
Joe McDonald did it with the Mets in the 60's. Much of his work had a tremendous (if indirect) effect on the 1986 Mets also (after all, Hubie Brooks, Mookie, Orosco, Backman, Mazzilli and the trade return of Ron Darling...etc) . The 80's Mets built by Frank Cashen were the next example of harnessing a group of young players, seeing who is going to work out and building around them. Joe McLvaine tried it also in the 90's. It didn't work out but we were all on board with the plan.
These kids saved Manuel's job. They saved Omar's credibility. They kept this team in the mix. The kids changed the whole atmosphere around the team. The kids changed the fan's whole perception about the Flushing Ballclub.
The Yankees used to have AURA and MYSTIQUE appearing nightly once. Now that the Met regulars are back together again, our version ~ ANGST and ANXIETY start their summer tour through mediocrity.
The CORRECTION I speak of, of course is Beltran, Castillo, Maine, Perez, Barajas, and Francoeur. Beltran, Castillo, Maine and Ollie need to be corrected post haste! Find a way to rid the roster of these players or minimize their playing time and/or impact. The money is spent! That's part of a correction. Within two years there's a lot of money coming off their (Mets) books. Those players are the OLD GUARD. This ship needs to sail. We need to move on. The correction needs to be made.
If the Mets are not committed players at the trade deadline (and for what I have no idea), if they are not serious players for Lee this winter, if they are not thinking about Wright and Reyes with regards to the future.....what are they doing? What exactly is the plan here?
Give me all the kids I can have if the Mets do nothing by the deadline. I want Thole full time. I want F-Mart and Tejada playing. There's a whole list of names I want involved on the big club between now and Opening Day next year Bill. The rest of Baseball and the respective GM's out there may not like our prospects but there are a handful I do like and want to see them now. This is where the team is. We are not a serious playoff contender. Period. Rebuild it now. Complete what you started Jeff. Do it! So much of it has been done already. Just finish the job. We can then trade and use free agency to supplement, compliment and augment as needed. Build a core and do it now. There are players in this organization that can be somebody.
If you want to help this club right now...package Francoeur and a prospect for a right field upgrade and some bullpen help. Oh yea...get another starter too; anyone at this point. Just do not overpay for something average if that will make Met fans happy. Me? I'm not interested in an average pitcher. I'd rather give a kid a chance in our present context.
The OLD GUARD is back and so is the Met fan's angst and anxiety. Is it me Bill? Do I just not get it? You know for three years I've been screaming for this. And for three years all I've heard is people complain about the Mets and how bad this, and how bad that.....and they don't this, and they don't that crap. And I was told I couldn't have been anymore wrong than I was in 2007. Oh Yea...I was called lost and lacking baseball acumen back then by someone. Really Bill? Really? I'll blow this horn till I die or get what I want (win or lose...just give us the chance to have a clean slate).
Bill...after all this, I can still go on about how the Johan Santana window is closing...and the "then what" scenario; ~ About needing to replace K-Rod after next year (Parnell has stuff to be a closer). Those are more MET opportunities for applying Band-aids in the Wilponian world we live in. When will this vicious cycle end?
After that Bill....you know where my head is at. What kind of club does Jeff want his POP's team to be? It's all on him.
Gee I wish we had more forthright ownership.
Mike.BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
Let's get right to the heart of Met Matters and WILPONIANISM shall we?
Are the Mets going to make a genuine effort to sign Cliff Lee this winter? Are they willing to do what other clubs won't? Will they do enough to convince him to pitch here?
ANSWER ~ I'm leaning towards no; They won't.
The time is coming soon when the Mets need to decide whether WRIGHT and REYES are going to anchor this team before they're up for big money. If the Mets don't commit in theory one way or another now, we'll just continue to spin our tires in the mud when it gets to that. If they know they are not committed to them long term for big money, Trade Them. If they are committed in theory, hurry up and continue the re-build process we started (started out of desperation and we are still deciding whether it worked out by design or accident!). MY OPINION? I have no idea what the Wilpons think anymore.
So what exactly is the plan here Bill? Have the Mets thought about these things? I say no because they are practiced at the art of Band-aids. They're still a reactive ownership.
The Wilpons themselves represent the biggest problem for the Mets' fan base. They have NEVER been forthright, truthful, open...about the financial health of the club. Additionally is the Mets Medical Staff that inept to still be getting (injuries in general) Reyes' oblique injury somewhat wrong OR are the dictates of the Wilpons at work in such matters?
In business, CORRECTIONS hurt. All business' go through corrections. The Mets need a correction Bill. If the Mets do not impose a correction upon themselves they will forever chase their tails in a circle. The time is now. It was started already. They just need to recognize, follow through and finish the job. Remember how the Rangers recognized they needed a correction because of the ARod contract? Remember how Colorado recognized they had a problem on their hands with the Mike Hampton contract? Corrections. Look at Colorado and Texas in today's standings after a rebuilding process and a painful correction.
Joe McDonald did it with the Mets in the 60's. Much of his work had a tremendous (if indirect) effect on the 1986 Mets also (after all, Hubie Brooks, Mookie, Orosco, Backman, Mazzilli and the trade return of Ron Darling...etc) . The 80's Mets built by Frank Cashen were the next example of harnessing a group of young players, seeing who is going to work out and building around them. Joe McLvaine tried it also in the 90's. It didn't work out but we were all on board with the plan.
These kids saved Manuel's job. They saved Omar's credibility. They kept this team in the mix. The kids changed the whole atmosphere around the team. The kids changed the fan's whole perception about the Flushing Ballclub.
The Yankees used to have AURA and MYSTIQUE appearing nightly once. Now that the Met regulars are back together again, our version ~ ANGST and ANXIETY start their summer tour through mediocrity.
The CORRECTION I speak of, of course is Beltran, Castillo, Maine, Perez, Barajas, and Francoeur. Beltran, Castillo, Maine and Ollie need to be corrected post haste! Find a way to rid the roster of these players or minimize their playing time and/or impact. The money is spent! That's part of a correction. Within two years there's a lot of money coming off their (Mets) books. Those players are the OLD GUARD. This ship needs to sail. We need to move on. The correction needs to be made.
If the Mets are not committed players at the trade deadline (and for what I have no idea), if they are not serious players for Lee this winter, if they are not thinking about Wright and Reyes with regards to the future.....what are they doing? What exactly is the plan here?
Give me all the kids I can have if the Mets do nothing by the deadline. I want Thole full time. I want F-Mart and Tejada playing. There's a whole list of names I want involved on the big club between now and Opening Day next year Bill. The rest of Baseball and the respective GM's out there may not like our prospects but there are a handful I do like and want to see them now. This is where the team is. We are not a serious playoff contender. Period. Rebuild it now. Complete what you started Jeff. Do it! So much of it has been done already. Just finish the job. We can then trade and use free agency to supplement, compliment and augment as needed. Build a core and do it now. There are players in this organization that can be somebody.
If you want to help this club right now...package Francoeur and a prospect for a right field upgrade and some bullpen help. Oh yea...get another starter too; anyone at this point. Just do not overpay for something average if that will make Met fans happy. Me? I'm not interested in an average pitcher. I'd rather give a kid a chance in our present context.
The OLD GUARD is back and so is the Met fan's angst and anxiety. Is it me Bill? Do I just not get it? You know for three years I've been screaming for this. And for three years all I've heard is people complain about the Mets and how bad this, and how bad that.....and they don't this, and they don't that crap. And I was told I couldn't have been anymore wrong than I was in 2007. Oh Yea...I was called lost and lacking baseball acumen back then by someone. Really Bill? Really? I'll blow this horn till I die or get what I want (win or lose...just give us the chance to have a clean slate).
Bill...after all this, I can still go on about how the Johan Santana window is closing...and the "then what" scenario; ~ About needing to replace K-Rod after next year (Parnell has stuff to be a closer). Those are more MET opportunities for applying Band-aids in the Wilponian world we live in. When will this vicious cycle end?
After that Bill....you know where my head is at. What kind of club does Jeff want his POP's team to be? It's all on him.
Gee I wish we had more forthright ownership.
Mike.BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
Friday, April 16, 2010
LORD de los FLIES
Picture if you will:
A "Simon" in Adidas Spikes, trans-fixed on a pig's head mounted on a stick ninety feet away that speaks to Simon while it grips him in an hallucinatory trance.
"The Lord of the Flies" speaks to Simon of the Spikes,
"Come. Come get the "Beast". The Beast is here!"
Possessed to slay the Beast, Simon takes off! With every step of a gaining, intensifying charge, the chemicals released by his inner biology dopes him closer to the mind of "Roger - the Animal" now.
Enraged and high from the chase, newRoger of the Spikes, springs and pounces like the wild cats of the savanna at a point eighty feet from the start of his hunt. The prize lay ten feet ahead and Roger of the Adidas Spikes would savor his kill upon "Castle Rock".
The epidermis of the captured Beast was about to offer up its sweet taste of blood and the rewarding taste of conquering survival when just before glistening saliva waxed incisors made contact with prey... a startling realization snapped Roger of the Adidas Spikes out of his intoxicated Bacchic stupor;
He looked up and screamed to himself in disbelief, "Ay Caramba!! There's grown-ups on this island and they're all laughing at me!"
Well, the Beast turned out to be Jose Reyes standing on second base looking on as one of the grown-ups, second base Umpire Ron Kulpa was calling Luis Castillo out for attempting to steal second base while it was occupied by Reyes. Apparently Reyes didn't go on the front end of a double steal during Thursday night's game and Castillo never bothered to look up.
The next time you feel like your inner Roger the Animal wants to come out for some fun, take a second and think about what you're doing. And the next time you feel like you're getting rope-a-doped by your inner Simon, snap out of it before you find yourself with these expressions permanently etched on your face:
And the next time you find a pig's head on stick looking to make conversation you,
ignore it or pick up the third base coach.
Consider yourself slapped with a classic!
BTB
*******************************************
In a late developing METropoli-Gaffe:
On the upcoming series with the Cardinals,
Omar Minaya, GM of the Mets is reported to have said by SI.COM,
(paraphrasing)
'If we go into St. Louis and take two out of three I'll be very happy.
If we win one game, I'll take it.'
...and then I'm left to wonder why the Mets have been affording
Asst. GM John Ricco more room to roam.
These are comments by Minaya, GM of an organization,
whose owner declared as his mission statement more than once in the past,...
"I want to play meaningful games in September" - Fred Wilpon
My GM would be satisfied with one win in St. Louis this weekend.
My owner will like a meaningful game in September.
It's shooting kinda low if you ask me. But one thing at a time Boyz.
Ponderous
*******************************************
In a late developing METropoli-Gaffe:
On the upcoming series with the Cardinals,
Omar Minaya, GM of the Mets is reported to have said by SI.COM,
(paraphrasing)
'If we go into St. Louis and take two out of three I'll be very happy.
If we win one game, I'll take it.'
...and then I'm left to wonder why the Mets have been affording
Asst. GM John Ricco more room to roam.
These are comments by Minaya, GM of an organization,
whose owner declared as his mission statement more than once in the past,...
"I want to play meaningful games in September" - Fred Wilpon
My GM would be satisfied with one win in St. Louis this weekend.
My owner will like a meaningful game in September.
It's shooting kinda low if you ask me. But one thing at a time Boyz.
Ponderous
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Spring Training: Met's Positional Players, My Anxiety
In no particular order, here is the Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
Mets Spring Training: Positional Players
****
CATCHER - ....has been a problem for the Mets since MIKE PIAZZA's last game and has gone unresolved to the present. Omar has never really found a stable solution for this position. Omar brought in PAUL LoDUCA to replace Piazza and was servicable for a year and 1/2. It's been a revolving door ever since.
I would give the job outright to JOSH THOLE. It's easy to get caught up in the sparkle of a promising September call-up like he experienced in '09. Having said that, I don't think I'm getting caught up by a sparkling Sept. call-up.
The other options are OMIR SANTOS and HENRY BLANCO. Bengie MOLINA chose against signing with the Mets for less money to stay in S.F. Omar tried. I cede him that. But by no means was Molina a solution for the catching position. At best he would have been the latest through the revolving door.
Back to Santos and Blanco, they are considered the defensive specialists. Problem is they are both offensively challenged. Let's be honest. If you're going to tell me one of them is the starter while we continue to look for someone else and we're sending Thole to the farm for more seasoning.....That's fair. If I'm being forced to be pragmatic about this....that's fair. But my official stance is I would give the job to Thole. My official opinion is Omar hasn't been able to give this position stability entering the 5th year since Piazza last played here. And my sarcasm asks...Santos and Blanco? Really? Make the arguement why one of those two should start over Thole and get back to me.
I'm going to admit, all I want from my catchers is superlative defense. I'm a Jerry Grote guy if that gives you an idea what I'm talking about. Having said that....gimmie Thole.
****
FIRSTBASE - I made it quite clear...I wanted Carlos Delgado back under a one-year deal...Like Jane wanted Damon back! He is so close to 500 HR and 1600 RBI and I wanted him to do it as a Met. If you know me by now and how I followed the Winter Leagues, even I have to admit he was not moving well and struggled in Puerto Rican League play. I saw it for myself. Ask me and I will tell you, in better days, it was Delgado and not J.Reyes that made the Mets' line-up dangerous.
A quick digression which leads me into our other options.... When Carlos Delgado was a free agent he chose to go to Florida over us. There were rumors and speculation it was because Tony Bernazard was playing the Latino Card and it turned Delgado off. Omar traded to get Carlos Delgado anyway. He traded a kid of ours at the time, Mike Jacobs. Now we just re-signed Jacobs.
DANIEL MURPHY - This is tough for me. We need more slugging from 1B. It's just too hard to "hide" him in our line-up. I like the kid and I want to be patient with him. In 508 at-bat he only struck out 69 times and had 38 doubles, while batting .266 in his first full year. It's something to work with. He makes contact and maybe he can build upon and translate those doubles into something else. Oh yea...He's still learning how to play the position. He's still raw out there, but I won't say his glove is for self-defensive purposes only. But this is such a tough call. After you look at our options, we don't have much choice.
FERNANDO TATIS - ...again? Really? C'Mon!! I'm all for a strict platoon at firstbase. But are we doing this Tatis thing again? Not happy.
MIKE JACOBS - ...is very interesting. I was sorry to see him go in the Delgado deal. He never lived up to the promise he showed here once he left. He topped 30 HR in his career but has struggled away from "Shea". I have mixed emotions about him. I'm glad to see him back. Maybe he can pick-up where he left off here and recapture some of that swing we saw and actually win the 1B job. But Jacobs completes a cycle of sorts as he is here and Delgado is not. Omar is literally back to where the 1B situation was when he arrived here for the 2005 season.
****
SECOND BASE - ...Luis Castillo had a nice bounce back season. He really got a bad rap around here for the foolish contract Omar signed him to, then offering up a stinker of a season in 2008. But the truth is he's always been a .300 hitter with very solid defense. Omar was killed routinely about Luis Castillo and still is. All the talk here in NYC is Luis Castillo is the reason why we don't have Orlando Hudson playing 2B for us. The Mets won't eat Castillo's contract. I'm not drinking that HUDSON Kool-Aid. I think Castillo can give us another season like he offered last year. He was one of the few things that went right around here last year. But he still gets a bad rap. I myself don't like the contract Omar gave him, but I could be more critical of this situation than I am. Side note...There is no one worth mentioning coming up from the farm. It's Luis Castillo or bust Met fans.
****
****
****
INFIELDERS - ALEX CORA, can play 1B, 2B, 3B and SS. Another one of the few bright spots for the Mets last year with his ability to step in for injured players and actually improve the defense in the absense of the starter. His attitude and leadership were heralded throughout the clubhouse. He is rehabbed from thumb surgeries and ready for the season.****
LEFT FIELD - JASON BAY. I can't knock this signing. As a matter of fact it's about time. LF has been another of Omar's revolving door postions. One of Omar's fetishes is trying to capture lightning in a bottle from older players at the end of their careers and injury comebacks. Omar, not once but twice, mistakenly signed Moises Alou for this position. First time shame on me....second time shame on OMAR! At least now with Jason Bay the position is settled for a few years. There are some health concerns that scared the Red Sox away and a few other teams felt likewise. The fact that I wouldn't trust the Met's Med Staff to put on a band-aid at current, has to leave a small fraction of uncertainty in Met Minds.
****
****
ANGEL PAGAN is someone I've liked since he played with the Brooklyn Cyclones (A) in 2001. In spring training of 2008 he was winning the day and himself a LF job. Injury ended that. Last year was another season waisted to injury also. He's not a kid anymore however much Met fans thinks he still is. But when he was on the field he always seamed in the mix, part of a rally and doing good things. Beltran's injury is probably Pagan's last chance to show his worth here but he has to stay healthy. If he can manage that he can be a good player for us. I am pulling for him.
FERNANDO MARTINEZ, a product from the farm I claim doesn't exist anymore. He was MVP of the Caribbean Series for his Dominican Republic team this winter. He is still only 21 and seems to be our only "blue chipper". That remains to be seen. But I like this kid and want to see him get substantial time in CF in Beltran's absence.
****
****
That about covers the impotant stuff about the Mets positional players. The Mets offense will be living a precarious existence this season if ANYTHING goes wrong. There is just no room for error on this team and I don't see this team washing out the taste from our mouths in reference to the way the last 3 seasons have gone. I'm trying folks....I'm trying to be optimistic.
Let's Go Mets !!
(sigh)
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
RedSox sign Beltre - Castillo to Boston? REALLY?
BoSox Buy Beltre.
It's been announced the Red Sox signed Adrian Beltre......and Mike Lowell is gonna.....?
It's only a one year deal though....which speaks to what I said in my last post about the MLB expiring contract..
Now the rumor is the Mets and Red Sox swapping Mike Lowell for Luis Castillo. Apparently Dustin Pedroia hinted he'd be willing to move to short stop. I can't say I like that idea. I like Pedroia right where he is. The monkey wrench in that is shortstop has never been settled since the Nomar Garciapara trade. I thought it then; - I thought the RedSox should have re-up'd Orlando Cabrera. Such as life.
Luis Castillo is getting a real bad rap around here. The problem was Omar giving him a 4 year deal when he was fresh off injury. Four Years? C'Mon! It's just like Jason Bay currently. While teams are signing players to one and two year deals, Omar continues to cave in and give that last year, for the sake of getting the deal done. I hoped the Mets could sign Bay for 3 years. They gave him four...& a VESTED OPTION FIFTH YEAR!! Unbelievable.! But - Castillo is a good player. He hit over his career avg. last year after finally getting over his injury. He has a good glove too. He's had a very solid career. But NY Met fans are just dying to get him sent somewhere else to the point they'll drive him to the airport themselves. If the Mets can move Castillo for Lowell (health still suspect), Mike can play first and give us a little more than Daniel Murphy did. But don't start counting D- Murph out yet. Did you notice his doubles total? To replace Castillo I'm assuming the plan would be to try and sign Orlando Hudson to a year-too-long contract like Omar does everyone else, (See - Johan 7yrs. - Glavine, too long, Pedro too long, Wagner year too long, Castillo too long.....get my drift?). Oh, I'm sorry, Mets waited too long on him too. He signed already. Rats!
Jason Marquis is going to throw a no-hitter against the Mets in 2010 because he wanted to pitch here, his hometown, but the Mets were still snoozing at the time. But we got R.A. freakin' Dickey though. Woo-Hoo!
...And as for Theo; What is he thinking about entertaining this thought about Pedroia to short? That'sa wicked BAD idea dude.
The Hot Stove just got a little wierd....like looking at H. Matsui in an Angels uniform. Know when something just doesn't look right?
Point of amusement >.....Matsui and Ichiro can't stand eachother. It'll be fun watching them in the same division now.
http://thebrooklyntrolleyBlogger.mlblogs.com/
http://theBrooklyntrolleyBlogger.blogspot.com/
It's been announced the Red Sox signed Adrian Beltre......and Mike Lowell is gonna.....?
It's only a one year deal though....which speaks to what I said in my last post about the MLB expiring contract..
Now the rumor is the Mets and Red Sox swapping Mike Lowell for Luis Castillo. Apparently Dustin Pedroia hinted he'd be willing to move to short stop. I can't say I like that idea. I like Pedroia right where he is. The monkey wrench in that is shortstop has never been settled since the Nomar Garciapara trade. I thought it then; - I thought the RedSox should have re-up'd Orlando Cabrera. Such as life.
Luis Castillo is getting a real bad rap around here. The problem was Omar giving him a 4 year deal when he was fresh off injury. Four Years? C'Mon! It's just like Jason Bay currently. While teams are signing players to one and two year deals, Omar continues to cave in and give that last year, for the sake of getting the deal done. I hoped the Mets could sign Bay for 3 years. They gave him four...& a VESTED OPTION FIFTH YEAR!! Unbelievable.! But - Castillo is a good player. He hit over his career avg. last year after finally getting over his injury. He has a good glove too. He's had a very solid career. But NY Met fans are just dying to get him sent somewhere else to the point they'll drive him to the airport themselves. If the Mets can move Castillo for Lowell (health still suspect), Mike can play first and give us a little more than Daniel Murphy did. But don't start counting D- Murph out yet. Did you notice his doubles total? To replace Castillo I'm assuming the plan would be to try and sign Orlando Hudson to a year-too-long contract like Omar does everyone else, (See - Johan 7yrs. - Glavine, too long, Pedro too long, Wagner year too long, Castillo too long.....get my drift?). Oh, I'm sorry, Mets waited too long on him too. He signed already. Rats!
Jason Marquis is going to throw a no-hitter against the Mets in 2010 because he wanted to pitch here, his hometown, but the Mets were still snoozing at the time. But we got R.A. freakin' Dickey though. Woo-Hoo!
...And as for Theo; What is he thinking about entertaining this thought about Pedroia to short? That'sa wicked BAD idea dude.
The Hot Stove just got a little wierd....like looking at H. Matsui in an Angels uniform. Know when something just doesn't look right?
Point of amusement >.....Matsui and Ichiro can't stand eachother. It'll be fun watching them in the same division now.
http://thebrooklyntrolleyBlogger.mlblogs.com/
http://theBrooklyntrolleyBlogger.blogspot.com/
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